Tubert gets invite to LPGA event

Women's golf: Former Burroughs standout will take part in professional tournament in September in Arkansas.

July 09, 2011|By Jeff Tully, jeff.tully@latimes.com

(Courtesy University…)

BURBANK — Emily Tubert received some good news last week while she was competing in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship.

Tubert, a Burroughs High graduate who will be a sophomore at the University of Arkansas in the fall, learned that she had earned a sponsor's exemption to play in the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark.

The event is scheduled for Sept. 5-11, and Tubert is the fifth Razorback women's golfer to earn a sponsor's exemption and will be the 12th player in program history to take part in the event since it began in 2007.

Tubert said getting the opportunity to compete in her first LPGA event is special.

"I'm really looking forward to it," Tubert said. "I went out and watched the event last year and it's just a great tournament. To get to play in the tournament, in a place where there is so much support for the Razorbacks, is going to be incredible.

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"I'm just fortunate to have the opportunity to do this and I'm excited. It should be a great experience."

Arkansas women's Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said she is impressed with what Tubert has been able to accomplish during her one year with the program.

"I've said many times that I couldn't be more proud of Emily and the accomplishments she has achieved as a Razorback," Estes-Taylor said on the university's website. "Earning an exemption into this event, which is quickly becoming a premier event on Tour, is another feather for her cap and she has a long way to go in her collegiate career. The sky is the limit for this young lady and I'm excited that Razorback fans will have a chance to see her and support her against the world's best players."

Tubert, the defending champion in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, played well in the event last week. She advanced to the round of 16 at the tournament in Bandon, Ore.

Tubert won her first match of the day in dramatic fashion over Harin Lee, 1 up, in the morning contest. Tubert and Lee were square after the first hole before Tubert took a lead on the second hole when Lee bogeyed the par-three pin.

Tubert went 2 up on the third hole and increased her lead to 3 on the ninth hole. But Lee played her way back into the match winning the 11th, 12th and 13th holes to even the score.

Lee then won the 14th hole when Tubert bogeyed the par 4, 306-yard hole and held onto the lead through the 17th hole, when Tubert again squared the match.